Written by: Steven Hughes
Director of Business Development & Management
NC State University Industry Extension Services hosted a Lunch and Learn session on Cyber Security Awareness at the Polymers Center in Charlotte on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The Lunch + Learn workshop was presented by Brian Vigna, with Tamara Mack, Jennifer Fielder and Steven Hughes from the Regional Manager Team. Eight guests participated.
The presentation covered key questions like “Who wants my data?” and “Who is a target?” emphasizing that anyone online is vulnerable. It highlighted that in 2023, manufacturing was the most targeted industry. The primary threats included phishing, ransomware, embedded sensors on machines, automation, robotics, and AI tools.
The presentation also stressed the critical role of the human element in security breaches: “Companies get penetrated often because employees inadvertently do things to let hackers in. Seventy percent of breaches in 2023 involved the human element, with a third resulting from phishing. People often click on emails, texts, or solicitations that seem legitimate but aren’t, leading to the disclosure of sensitive information or malware spread,” stated Vigna
Vigna noted a significant gap in training, stating that only 11% of businesses provided cybersecurity awareness programs to non-cyber employees in 2020. Companies are urged to consider all employees as potential vulnerabilities and emphasize the importance of strong security practices, including:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Strong password practices
- Password management
- Email and web security
- Regular employee training
Industry Extension Services offers free resources for companies to develop their own cybersecurity strategy. Visit: ies.ncsu.edu/cybersecurity to access the cybersecurity resources.
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About Industry Extension Services
NC State University Industry Extension Services (IES) is the extension and outreach team for the NC State University College of Engineering and administers the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) for North Carolina (NCMEP). IES supports all North Carolina businesses by providing connections, networking with industry experts and helping to identify the resources, tools and customized programs needed to increase productivity, efficiency, quality and profit.
Contact your Industry Extension Services Regional Manager for immediate assistance!
ies.ncsu.edu
